I've got a slightly more than average knowledge base on cosmology (though maybe not more than your average slashdotter). I've read a few books, but one thing I've never cleared up: Why do galaxies form in flat spirals and pancaks, and not in gravitationally stable spheres? Is there a simple reason I'm missing?
Just because they're capable doesn't mean they should do it. That's up the manufacturer. While I would love interoperability, this isn't up to the government to decide.
No, in that they provide two entirely distinct functions in the computer. With out dragging on too much, take the simple example of upgrades. I, myself, have upgraded my GPU twice since my last processor upgrade - not including the new graphics card I bought along with it orginally. Do you expect me to buy a new CPU every time I want improved graphics performance?
There may be a niche market for this, handheld devices and the likes, but not for the general computing market.
It's totally irrelevant whether they are mounted on one silicon wafer or two.
I was under the impression that dual-core was two processors (two cores) mounted on one chip - i.e. one chip with two cores. Whereas what you referred to in your first post was called dual-processor, albeit also dual core.
I could be wrong, but I don't believe there is a version of Windows compiled for dual processors.
Instead, you will see performance gains when running mutliple applications. With even one app, it will allow multiple threads (ones for the OS and ones for the App) to run simultaneously, giving you a boost. Running more than one app or running apps compiled with multi-threading in mind will show a performance boost no matter what Windows version you are running.
A little robotics might get you there. This may or may not be the best way, but it would work:
Careful odometry should get you within a foot or so, assuming you start from a known point. Yet, odometry coordinates inevitably degrade with time as errors build upon themselves.
There exists an algorithm, however, called the Extended Kalman Filter, that can help correct this. Using just a few sonar/iR sensors, corrections can be made to the coordinates.
Basically, as you move your forklift, its margin of error in position keeps increasing. Every once and awhile you fire off a handful of distance measurements from your sensors. Using the EKF, you can use this data along with a map of your warehouse to reduce your margin of error. The more measurements and the more accurate the readings, the closer you can properly position your forklift.
It is not incorrect. From the faq that you linked:
If a business or other enterprise asks you for your SSN, you can refuse to give it.
The only group that can require your SSN is the government, employers for "tax purposes" (not id or other employee tracking purposes), and banks (which, I'll admit suprised me a little.)
Right, and I realize I should have mentioned CC companies in my account. SSN's, in theory however, shouldn't have to be given out to third parties - even if they are using them for legitimate purposes.
My real point, however, was that the only better system you're really going to come up with can't simply involve information you know in your head or have written down. Someone can always come up with a reason you should divulge such information to them, (or at least they can convince a lot of people that it's a good reason to divulge it.)
But that's where it gets interesting. Take an American Social Security Number for instance. Technically, no one but the government can require you to give out the number. Workplaces, however, often ask for it, when applying, so that they can fill out government income tax forms. Health care facilities often ask for things like medic-aid and medicare.
All someone has to do is convince you that they need that kind of information, regardless of the truth of the matter. There is a famous saying (that I'm about to butcher) in the security world: there should always be three factor identifcation - something you carry (like an id), something you know (like a password), and something you own/are (like a fingerprint or dna). While the first two are in place, with driver's licenses and maiden names and what not, there is no widespread biometric database. And we all know how keen slashdotters are on that;)
I'm more wondering why they bothered figuring this out in the first place. What is gained by announcing to the world that an easily guarded threat might no longer be a threat?
That's why I was hoping there would be discussion on IE7 in the interview. Granted I don't expect them to reveal specific details, but it would be nice to have some assurance that new innovations are underway.
Not that I don't think OGG would be nice, but I just wanted to note a correction: the fraunhofer license allows encoding of audio for personal use free of charge. A license fee is only needed if you're using mp3 for a commercial application.
Well, from what I've seen, they're going to have just about every feature that FireFox offers (sans css2), was designed with security in mind (they claim), and it comes with the OS. Why would anyone average Joe Schmo user bother turning to something else? This is why I'm sad the question wasn't addressed in the interview.
No talk of IE7 or how they plan to take on a new pre-installed browser. That makes me sad. I guess maybe a lack of CSS2 support in IE7 might help Mozilla... but that's a big might.
Assuming you want to become a 'compu-whiz'. Note that not everyone (read: a very very small percentage of the population) needs to know how to run gmake.
Well, that's what I was pointing out in my parent post. In Google's case, it could be argued that both sides win about the same, since the internet seems better off with them around (and google is certainly better off with the internet).
Note that this is an average. A small but valuable network is still, well, valuable. i.e. Google's size when compared to the internet as a whole is nothing, but they still add an immense amount to it. nLog(n) is only an approximation.
The last paragraph makes a very interesting point:
When two networks merge, "the smaller network gains considerably more than the larger one. This produces an incentive for larger networks to refuse to interconnect without payment, a very common phenomenon in the real economy," the researchers conclude.
Assuming their research holds true, adding 100 computers to 100,000 computers is pretty worthless for a big network - they get only a small gain compared to their starting value. The small network, on the other hand, has huge amounts compared to where they started.
It's common sense, of course, but worth taking note of.
Slashdot Mirror
Mod me down - I just remembered why. I'm an idiot.
I've got a slightly more than average knowledge base on cosmology (though maybe not more than your average slashdotter). I've read a few books, but one thing I've never cleared up: Why do galaxies form in flat spirals and pancaks, and not in gravitationally stable spheres? Is there a simple reason I'm missing?
Just because they're capable doesn't mean they should do it. That's up the manufacturer. While I would love interoperability, this isn't up to the government to decide.
No, in that they provide two entirely distinct functions in the computer. With out dragging on too much, take the simple example of upgrades. I, myself, have upgraded my GPU twice since my last processor upgrade - not including the new graphics card I bought along with it orginally. Do you expect me to buy a new CPU every time I want improved graphics performance?
There may be a niche market for this, handheld devices and the likes, but not for the general computing market.
and now:
I was under the impression that dual-core was two processors (two cores) mounted on one chip - i.e. one chip with two cores. Whereas what you referred to in your first post was called dual-processor, albeit also dual core.
I could be wrong, but I don't believe there is a version of Windows compiled for dual processors.
Instead, you will see performance gains when running mutliple applications. With even one app, it will allow multiple threads (ones for the OS and ones for the App) to run simultaneously, giving you a boost. Running more than one app or running apps compiled with multi-threading in mind will show a performance boost no matter what Windows version you are running.
This is not true dual core but two cores slapped into one chip package...
Care to elaborate on the difference?
A little robotics might get you there. This may or may not be the best way, but it would work:
Careful odometry should get you within a foot or so, assuming you start from a known point. Yet, odometry coordinates inevitably degrade with time as errors build upon themselves.
There exists an algorithm, however, called the Extended Kalman Filter, that can help correct this. Using just a few sonar/iR sensors, corrections can be made to the coordinates.
Basically, as you move your forklift, its margin of error in position keeps increasing. Every once and awhile you fire off a handful of distance measurements from your sensors. Using the EKF, you can use this data along with a map of your warehouse to reduce your margin of error. The more measurements and the more accurate the readings, the closer you can properly position your forklift.
Right, and I realize I should have mentioned CC companies in my account. SSN's, in theory however, shouldn't have to be given out to third parties - even if they are using them for legitimate purposes.
My real point, however, was that the only better system you're really going to come up with can't simply involve information you know in your head or have written down. Someone can always come up with a reason you should divulge such information to them, (or at least they can convince a lot of people that it's a good reason to divulge it.)
But that's where it gets interesting. Take an American Social Security Number for instance. Technically, no one but the government can require you to give out the number. Workplaces, however, often ask for it, when applying, so that they can fill out government income tax forms. Health care facilities often ask for things like medic-aid and medicare.
;)
All someone has to do is convince you that they need that kind of information, regardless of the truth of the matter. There is a famous saying (that I'm about to butcher) in the security world: there should always be three factor identifcation - something you carry (like an id), something you know (like a password), and something you own/are (like a fingerprint or dna). While the first two are in place, with driver's licenses and maiden names and what not, there is no widespread biometric database. And we all know how keen slashdotters are on that
But you wouldn't be getting theater tickets now would you, seeing as how they need a real address to mail the tickets to.
What have we accomplished by making this statement? If nothing else, doesn't this just tempt virii/malware writers into trying harder?
That's why I was hoping there would be discussion on IE7 in the interview. Granted I don't expect them to reveal specific details, but it would be nice to have some assurance that new innovations are underway.
Not that I don't think OGG would be nice, but I just wanted to note a correction: the fraunhofer license allows encoding of audio for personal use free of charge. A license fee is only needed if you're using mp3 for a commercial application.
And, as a website maintainter/creator, that's exactly what I'm afraid of.
Well, from what I've seen, they're going to have just about every feature that FireFox offers (sans css2), was designed with security in mind (they claim), and it comes with the OS. Why would anyone average Joe Schmo user bother turning to something else? This is why I'm sad the question wasn't addressed in the interview.
No talk of IE7 or how they plan to take on a new pre-installed browser. That makes me sad. I guess maybe a lack of CSS2 support in IE7 might help Mozilla... but that's a big might.
Assuming you want to become a 'compu-whiz'. Note that not everyone (read: a very very small percentage of the population) needs to know how to run gmake.
Agreed, CSS needs some work, but its a hell of a lot better than nothing at all (or flawed support, anyways.) What gives?
Exactly what the article and I were pointing out. The value increase for large networks is, on average, worthless.
Well, that's what I was pointing out in my parent post. In Google's case, it could be argued that both sides win about the same, since the internet seems better off with them around (and google is certainly better off with the internet).
Note that this is an average. A small but valuable network is still, well, valuable. i.e. Google's size when compared to the internet as a whole is nothing, but they still add an immense amount to it. nLog(n) is only an approximation.
It's common sense, of course, but worth taking note of.